St. Thomas University

• Name — St. Thomas University • Motto — "Leaders for Life" • Type — Private university • Endowment — $34.4 million (2022) • President — David A. Armstrong • Students — 5,922 • Undergrad — 1,797 • Postgrad — 1,498 • Other Students — 2,626 • City — Miami Gardens, Florida • Country — United States • Former Names — Biscayne College (1961–1984) • Sporting Affiliations — NAIA – The Sun • Sports Nickname — Bobcats • Colors — Burgundy & Dark Blue • Academic Affiliations — * ACCU • NAICU • CIC • ICUF • Religious Affiliation — Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami • Website — https: www.stu.edu/

St. Thomas University's history can be traced back to 1946 Havana, Cuba, where it was founded by Augustinian friars from the United States as the Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva, named after Saint Thomas of Villanova. In 1961, Fidel Castro's militia confiscated the school's land and expelled the faculty and priests. In turn, the Augustinians fled to Miami and opened a new Catholic men's college – Biscayne College. In 1984, with the establishment of the School of Law and other graduate degree programs, the college, by then co-educational, again became St. Thomas University. The university came under the sponsorship of the Archdiocese of Miami in 1988, conferring upon St. Thomas the distinction of being the only Catholic Archdiocesan sponsored university in the state of Florida. From 1970 until 1993, St. Thomas University was the training camp home of the Miami Dolphins NFL team. It was also the spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles. The university was located in the Opa-locka North census-designated place, in an unincorporated area, until Miami Gardens incorporated as a city on May 13, 2003. In 2019, St. Thomas University formally installed David A. Armstrong as the university's tenth president.

• President — Tenure • Edward J. McCarthy — 1962-1968 • Ralph V. Shuhler — 1968-1969 • John H. McDonnell — 1969-1975 • John J. Farrell — 1975-1980 • Patrick H. O'Neill — 1980-1986 • Pasquale di Pasquale — 1987-1988 • Richard E. Greene — 1989-1993 • Edward J. McCarthy — 1993-1994 • Franklyn M. Casale — 1994-2018 • David A. Armstrong — 2018–present

St. Thomas University offers 23 undergraduate majors, 24 graduate majors, four doctoral programs, and one professional law program through its four colleges and schools: • Benjamin L. Crump College of Law • Biscayne College of Social and Human Sciences • Gus Machado School of Business • School of Science, Technology and Health St. Thomas University is a member of the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities, the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

In 2024, St. Thomas University accepted 65.1% of undergraduate applicants, was considered to have "Extremely Easy Admission Standards" with those enrolled having an average 3.24 high school GPA and with standardized test scores of an average 860-1060 SAT score, or an average 16-21 ACT score.

• Usnwr Nu — 392-434 U.S. News & World Report ranked St. Thomas University in the No. 392-434 category out of 436 universities in the National Universities category in its 2025 Best Colleges ranking.

Study abroad opportunities offer students study abroad experiences in Croatia, India, Israel, Italy, and Spain.

St. Thomas University demographics • Ethnic Enrollment, Fall 2018 — Students • Hispanic — 48.4% • Black — 17.1% • White — 16% • International — 8% • Two or more races — 3.4% • Asian — 1.4% • American Indian/Alaska Native — 0.4% • Hawaiian/Pacific Islander — 0.1% • Unknown — 5.3%

The 150 acre campus is located in Miami Gardens, Florida. The University Library also contains the Archbishop John C. Favalora Archive and Museum. The museum opened in 2008.

St. Thomas has six residence halls: Villanova Hall, Cascia Hall, Sullivan Hall, University Inn, Murphy Family Hall, and New Hall.

The St. Thomas athletic teams are called the Bobcats. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Sun Conference (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) until after spring 2008) since the 1990–91 academic year; while its men's wrestling team competes in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) and its eSports team competes in the Mid-South Conference (MSC). The Bobcats previously competed in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) of the NCAA Division II ranks from 1975–76 to 1986–87. St. Thomas competes in 28 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, rugby, soccer, swimming & diving (2020), tennis, track & field and wrestling (2020); while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cross country, flag football (2020), golf, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming & diving (2020), tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading, competitive dance and eSports.

Notable alumni of the university include: • Name — Class year — Notability — References • Al Avila — 1986 — Professional baseball manager • Jose Baez — 2001 (Law School) — Attorney and author • John T. Butler — 1987 — President of Boston College • Miguel Díaz — 1988 — Ambassador • Mike Fitzpatrick — 1985 — Politician • David Gettleman — 1986 — Professional baseball manager • Dom Irrera — 1972 — Actor and comedian • Ana Navarro — 1997 (Law School) — Attorney and political commentator • Alex Penelas — 1981 — Politician • Kiko Calero — 1994-1996 — Professional baseball player • Vinnie Chulk — 2001 — Professional baseball player • Nathan D.B. Connolly — 1999 — Historian and author • Manny Díaz Jr. — 1994 — Politician • Enrique Esteban Delgado — 2015 — Catholic bishop • Andy Elisburg — 1989 — Professional basketball manager • Michael Kelly — 1994 — College athletic director • Laurent Lamothe — 1999 — Politician • Paul Mainieri — 1982 — College baseball coach • Pamela Silva Conde — 2012 — Journalist and television anchor • Connie Sue Yori — 1990 — College basketball coach • William Levy — 1999-2000 — Actor and model • Kenny Anderson — 2010 — Professional basketball player • Helen Lasichanh — 1999-2002 — Fashion designer and model • Vicente Dopico Lerner — 1974 & 1976 — Painter • Alejandra Gutierrez Oraa — 2014 — Journalist and television anchor • Robin Harmony — 2009 — College basketball coach • Shirley Gibson — 1981 & 2003 — Politician • Francis Farberoff — 1997 — Professional Beach Soccer Player